What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On March 22, 2025, at about 0935 eastern daylight time, an Aero AT-4 LSA (light sport aircraft) crashed off the departure end of runway 27 at Bob White Field (X61) in Zellwood, Florida. A witness reported the aircraft takeoff appeared normal and then the aircraft pitched in a steep dive striking the ground in a near vertical position. This is representative of a stall spin condition which is consistent with the ground impression from impact.
The private pilot was fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed. The airplane was operated as a title 14 code of federal regulations part 91 personal flight.
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was conducted under part 91 visual flight rules. The flight originated at Bob White Field X61 in Zellwood, Florida and was destined for fort meyers Florida.
The pilot was medically eligible to fly as a light sport pilot with a valid driver’s license. The pilot’s most recent valid medical certificate had expired in 2004.
As the FAA filed it
ON MARCH 22, 2025, AT ABOUT 0935 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AERO AT-4 LSA (LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT) CRASHED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 27 AT BOB WHITE FIELD (X61) IN ZELLWOOD, FLORIDA. A WITNESS REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT TAKEOFF APPEARED NORMAL AND THEN THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED IN A STEEP DIVE STRIKING THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL POSITION. THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE OF A STALL SPIN CONDITION WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GROUND IMPRESSION FROM IMPACT.
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT.
VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER PART 91 VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT BOB WHITE FIELD X61 IN ZELLWOOD, FLORIDA AND WAS DESTINED FOR FORT MEYERS FLORIDA.
THE PILOT WAS MEDICALLY ELIGIBLE TO FLY AS A LIGHT SPORT PILOT WITH A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. THE PILOT’S MOST RECENT VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED IN 2004.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.